Water ski construction



June 26, 1962 .1. T. GREEN ETAL WATER SKI CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 2, 1959 James 7. Green Kenneth .1. Green 1N VEN TORS @6500. BY fin WWW M,

United States This invention relates to a novel and useful water ski construction and more particularly relates to a laminated water ski constructed so as to be provided with an arcuate body portion whose upper surface is convexed and an arcuate toe portion whose lower surface is convexed. Of course, the curvature of the body portion relative to its length is somewhat less than the curvature of the toe portion relative to its length. The formation of the water ski having the two oppositely curved body and toe portions results in a water ski having a reverse camber which inherently provides a water ski that is highly flexible and that will absorb considerable shock without causing the wearer to lose his balance.

Water skiing as a sport is becoming increasingly popular year after year and the use of slalom skis has greatly increased in recent years.

Although the ski construction utilizing a reverse camber can also be advantageously used when a skier is using two skis, greater advantages of operation are realized by the slalom skier.

In slalom skiing, the skier may gracefully execute a series of passes back and forth across the wake of the towing boat, each pass of which must terminate in a sharp turn directed to the other side of the wake. When executing these turns and when crossing the wake, the flexibility of the present invention greatly increases the pleasing effect of the ride to the skier and also tends to eliminate any erratic action of the ski caused by waves which could cause the skier to lose his balance.

The main object of this invention is to provide a water ski having a reverse camber with a body portion that is slightly arcuate having a convexed upper surface terminating in an upturned toe portion having an arcuate lower surface.

Another object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a stilfener for the body portion of the ski which is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the body portion to increase the strength of that portion and thus reduce the possibility of damage being incurred because of excess stresses due to the use of the skis in extremely rough water.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the rapid movement of the water ski through the water will cause a rooster tail of water to be formed behind the skier.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a water ski adapted to function in accordance with the preceding objects that will be of simple construction, conform to conventional forms of manufacture, and be economically feasible.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the water ski comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the water ski shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the water ski shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the invention as seen from the left side of FIGURE 2; and

atent FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the water ski as seen from the right side of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral'll) generally designates the water ski comprising the present invention. The water ski, with. attention directed now more particularly to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, comprises a forward toe portion 12 and a rearwardly disposed body portion 14. The body portion 14 is slightly arcuate in longitudinal contour having a convex upper surface and the toe portion 12 is also arcuate in longitudinal contour but is provided with a convex lower surface 18.

The body and toe poltions 14 and 16 are formed by adhesively securing an upper lamination 20 toa lower lamination 22. It will be noted that the body portion 14 is slightly arcuate in longitudinal section having a convex upper surface 16 and that the toe portion 12 is oppositely curved and is provided with a convexed lower surface 18. It will be noted that the body portion 14 is only slightly curved relative to its length, whereas the toe portion 12 is somewhat greatly curved relative to its length. Secured to the upper surface 16 of the body portion 14 in the same manner as are the laminations 20 and 22 secured together is a stifi'ener 24 which extends therealong from a point substantially at the intersection of the toe portion 12 and the body portion 14 rearwardly to a point a spaced distance from the rear edge of the body portion 14.

Secured to the undersurface 18 of the body portion 14 in any convenient manner adjacent the rear end of the ski is a depending rudder element 26 having an inclined forward face 28.

Formed in the rudder 28 and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the ski 10 is a first passageway 30 which communicates with the inclined surface 28 and extends rearwardly terminating in a second upwardly and rearwardly directed passageway 32 which communicates with the lower surface 18 of the ski 10.

'A third upwardly and rearwardly inclined passageway 34 is formed through the laminations 20 and 22 in alignment with and communicating with the second passageway 34.

If it is desired, an angulated conduit 36 may be secured within the passageways 30, 32 and 34. In operation, a person wearing the ski 10 is pulled along the surface of the water in the conventional manner, but the reverse camber of the ski 10 including the arcuate body portion 14 will enable the ski 10 to absorb a great deal of the shock resulting from the passage of the ski 10 through rough water.

The conduit 36 having its forward end opening through the inclined surface 28 of the rudder 26 will receive therein quantities of water as the ski 10 moves through the water in a forward direction. If the speed of the ski 10 is sufficient, the water entering the conduit 36 at its forward end and exiting through its rearward end above the rear surface 16 of the body portion 14 will in effect form a rooster tail of water behind the speeding skier.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A water ski having an elongated body portion, a depending rudder secured to the rear portion of the undersurface of said sk-i, said rudder being elongated and extending longitudinally of said body portion and including an upwardly and forwardly inclined forward face, a first substantially horizontal and longitudinally extending passageway formed in said rudder opening through said inclined forward face at its forward end and terminating in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined second passageway opening at its upper end through the upper surfaces of said rudder, a third rearwardly and upwardly inclined passageway formed in said body member having a lower end aligned and communicating with the upper end of said second passageway and an upper end opening through the upper surface of said body member, whereby movement of the ski over a body of Water in a forward direction will effect ramming of water in the forward end of said horizontal passageway to thereafter be discharged through the upper end of the third passageway forming a rooster tail of water behind a skier using the water ski whereby the presence and location of the water skier will be more readily apparent.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said horizontal and second and third passageways comprise two conduits 4 secured within suitable bores formed in said rudder and said body respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,993,636 Ullevoldsaeter Mar. 5, 1935 2,184,791 Broome Dec. 26, 1939 2,539,224 Beerli Jan. 23, 1951 2,704,043 Drier Mar. 15, 1955 2,823,397 Wagner Feb. 18, 1958 2,931,134 Nevitt Apr. 5, 1960 2,940,091 Fifer June 14, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Page 8 of the Comic Section of the Sunday Star, January 5, 1941, a newspaper published by The Evening Star Publishing Co., 225 Virginia Ave, SE, Washington, DC. 

